Tejashwi Yadav leads Patna march against SIR, demands CEC Gyanesh Kumar's exit
Synopsis
Tejashwi Yadav scaled a police barricade in Patna as the Mahagathbandhan's two-day agitation over Bihar's Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls peaked on 8 October — with the opposition demanding Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar's resignation and alleging that genuine voters were purged from rolls ahead of state elections.
Key Takeaways
Tejashwi Yadav led the Mahagathbandhan march in Patna on 8 October against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
The two-day agitation began with 'Aakrosh Marches' at block headquarters on 7 October , escalating to district headquarters and Lok Bhawan on 8 October .
Opposition demands include the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar — a demand denied by both the ECI and the BJP .
A scuffle broke out after Tejashwi Yadav climbed a police barricade; RAF , CRPF , and Bihar Police were deployed with water cannons.
The Opposition has alleged that genuine voters' names were deleted during the SIR exercise and questioned the transfer of ₹10,000 to women's accounts ahead of elections.
Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader and Leader of Opposition in the Bihar Assembly, Tejashwi Yadav, on 8 October 2026 led the Mahagathbandhan's protest march in Patna against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and the conduct of the Election Commission of India (ECI). The demonstration formed the second leg of a two-day statewide agitation, culminating in a march towards Lok Bhawan in the state capital.
The Protest and What Triggered It
The Mahagathbandhan had announced a two-phase agitation: on 7 October, 'Aakrosh Marches' were held at block headquarters across Bihar; on 8 October, demonstrations moved to district headquarters, with the main march directed at Lok Bhawan in Patna. Opposition leaders and workers raised slogans against the Election Commission, demanding that Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar step down. RJD leader Bhai Virendra and other Mahagathbandhan functionaries also participated in the demonstration.
Scuffle at Police Barricades
Tensions escalated when Tejashwi Yadav climbed onto a police barricade, after which a scuffle broke out between protesters and police personnel. The district administration had erected multiple barricades on routes leading to the Lok Bhawan area and had deployed additional forces to maintain law and order and regulate traffic. Security in Patna was significantly tightened, with personnel from the Rapid Action Force (RAF), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), and Bihar Police stationed at key locations. Water-cannon trucks were also positioned along the route, and special traffic-management measures were put in place.
Opposition Allegations Against the Election Commission
The Opposition has alleged that the SIR exercise resulted in the deletion or exclusion of genuine voters' names from electoral rolls. Tejashwi Yadav has accused the Election Commission of functioning in favour of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) — allegations that both the Election Commission and the BJP have denied. He also raised questions about what action the poll panel took regarding the transfer of ₹10,000 into women's bank accounts ahead of the Bihar Assembly elections, suggesting such transactions warranted scrutiny during the election period.
What the Opposition Is Demanding
Beyond the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, Opposition parties have called on the Election Commission to formally respond to their concerns over the electoral roll revision and to account for the action taken on complaints filed during the SIR process. Tejashwi Yadav said the Opposition had repeatedly raised questions about the Commission's functioning and had now taken to the streets because those concerns went unaddressed. This is part of a broader pattern of Opposition-ECI friction that has intensified ahead of upcoming state elections.
Point of View
The Election Commission has not publicly addressed the specifics of the deletion complaints, a silence that only sustains the controversy. With Bihar's political temperature rising, the ECI's credibility in the state hinges on transparent, timely responses — not denials alone.
NationPress
8 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar?
The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) is an exercise conducted by the Election Commission of India to update voter lists by adding new eligible voters and removing ineligible entries. The Bihar Opposition alleges that the current SIR resulted in the deletion of names of genuine voters, though the Election Commission has not confirmed these claims.
Why is the Opposition demanding CEC Gyanesh Kumar's resignation?
The Mahagathbandhan parties, led by Tejashwi Yadav, have accused Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar of overseeing a flawed SIR process and of functioning in favour of the BJP — allegations denied by both the ECI and the BJP. They are demanding his resignation until the concerns over voter deletions are addressed.
What happened during the Patna march on 8 October?
Tejashwi Yadav led a march towards Lok Bhawan in Patna on 8 October, the second day of a statewide agitation. A scuffle broke out after Yadav climbed a police barricade. Security forces including RAF, CRPF, and Bihar Police were deployed, with water-cannon trucks positioned along the route.
What are the Opposition's demands from the Election Commission?
Beyond demanding the resignation of CEC Gyanesh Kumar, Opposition parties want the Election Commission to formally explain the action taken on complaints about voter deletions during the SIR process. Tejashwi Yadav also wants the poll panel to clarify what steps it took regarding ₹10,000 transfers to women's accounts ahead of the Bihar elections.
What was the BJP and Election Commission's response to the allegations?
Both the BJP and the Election Commission have denied the Opposition's allegations that the SIR exercise was conducted unfairly or in favour of any political party. No detailed public rebuttal addressing the specific voter-deletion complaints has been issued.
